Schaumburg Boomers start in style, get the victory

The host Schaumburg Boomers scored 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal a win in their season opener, a 6-2 victory over the Windy City ThunderBolts on Thursday night.

The Boomers never trailed, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Gerard Hall, who recorded the first hit and run in franchise history in last season's opener, collected the first hit and run of 2013 when he led off with a double in the first and eventually scored on Chad Mozingo's sacrifice fly. Sean Mahley made it 2-0 in the second with an RBI single that drove home Brian McConkey, who had 3 hits.

Windy City evened the game with 2 runs in the sixth against starter Mike Giovenco, who worked 5 innings and struck out six.

The Boomers used an unearned run to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth and tacked on 3 in the eighth featuring a 2-run single from Mahley (2-for-4, 3 RBI).

Matt Kuna earned the win with 2 scoreless relief innings as the Boomers' bullpen retired 10 in a row at one point.

The Boomers (1-0), who were 34-17 at home last season, host the Washington Wild Things today at 6:30 p.m. Left-hander Danny Jimenez will start for the Boomers against lefty Shawn Smith. Fireworks will follow the game.